Burial apparatus.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

R. A. SHOESMITH. BURIAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION rum) JULY 14, 1902 w I Iw A N N .N\| N1 U NU H b M m (IN l M H AN R 5 Q m.

PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

R. SHOESMITH, BURIAL APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 14. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4;, 1906.

Application filed July 14.1902. Serial No. 115,504.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoLLiN A. SHOE- SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the village of Paw Paw, in the county of Van Burenand State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Burial Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in burial apparatus.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide an improved burialapparatus in which the mechanism for lowering the burialcase is verysimple and in which the whole can be folded into a small s ace; second,to provide an improved buria apparatus the casing of which is capable ofbeing folded into a very small compass or package for convenience intransportation and handling; third, to provide in a burial ap aratus animproved mechanism for the ibwering of a burial-case.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description tofollow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and combinationof devices described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined, and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is fully illustratedin the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 is aplan view of a structure embodying the features of myinvention with the top of the frame or casing removed to show thearrangement of the parts. Fi 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional viewta ren on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improvedburial apparatus when folded. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my improvedburial apparatus when folded. Fig. 5 is an end elevation view from theright of Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the hinged parts. Fig. 6 isan enlarged detail crosssectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig.7 is an enlarged view showing the arrangement of the shaft D and thebrake mechanism on a line corresponding to line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 isa detail sectional view of the shaft D, taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7,showing the manner of securing the lowering-straps to the shaft.

In the drawings the sectional views are taken looking in the directionof the little arrows at the ends of the section-lines, and similarletters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawin s, A I and A I are thesections forming the side portions, and A A and I I are the sectionsforming the end portions of the supporting frame or casing, which is ofa size and shape to rest about an open grave. The side sections A I aresecured together by hinges c on their inner faces, respectively. The endsections A A and the end sections I I are secured together by hinges con the under side of said sections, respectively. The end sections A Aare rigidly secured to the side sections A A. The end sections I I aresecured to the side sections I I by hinges d d on the outside of saidsections, respectively. This arrangement permits a very compact foldingof the structure, the folding being as follows: The side portions arefirst folded together lengthwise on the hinges c c. The sections I I arethen folded upon the sections A A on the hinges c, the end sections I Ibeing at the same time swung upwardly, so that they lie within the endsections A A upon the hin es d, as is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4:.

It will be observed that when the apparatus is in its open or operativeposition it will be impossible to move the sections on their hingesuntil the structure is folded lengthwise, and, further, that by myimproved arrangement of lowering bands or cords the hinged sections arepositively locked in their open position when the device is in use, aswill fully a pear from the description of such parts to fo low.

In one of the end sections A is a vertical shaft or roller B, whichprojects out of the top of the casing to receive a crank for winding upor controlling the lowering bands or cords. Secured to the shaft B arebands or straps C. These bands are preferably formed of one piece, whichis secured to the shaft by forming a groove therein and inserting asuitable key, as 6. (See Fig. 8.) The straps O are passed over theguiding and supporting pulleys D at each side. By this arrangement bothof the lowering bands or straps are wound upon or unwound from the shaftat the same time and to the same extent. The strain on the shaft beingin opposite directions offset each other, so that there is practicallyno strain upon the shaft, and conceive the stem J of the hand-wheel J,which.

is supported by the bracket f. A frictionband G, of leather or othersuitable material, is secured either to the periphery of the wheel or tothe inner face of the band G.

This forms a very inexpensive and eflicient brake mechanism.

Secured to each band or strap C are cords a a. These cords are passedover pulleys E E at the opposite end of the casing and back over theguide-pulleys E E, which are located so that the cords will properlysupport a casket. A suitable antifriction-roller, as b, is provided foreach lowering-cord at the point where they are delivered from theeasing. Suitable releasing devices, as F, are provided for the ends ofthe lowering-cords.

I have illustrated and described my improved burial apparatus in theform preferred by me on account of its econom of manufacture andconvenience in use. am aware, however, that it is capable of numerouschanges in structural details without departing from my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a burial apparatus the combination with a foldable framecomprising in its construction side sections A and I secured together byhinges c on their inner sides; end sections A rigidly secured to saidside sections A and to each other by-hinges c on their under sides; endsections I secured to said side sections I by hinges d on their outersides and to each other by hinges c on their under sides; of a verticalshaft B mounted to rotate in one of said sections A; bands or straps Csecured thereto and adapted to wind thereon; guide-rollers D for saidbands, arranged to each side of said casing; pulleys E E suitablysupported at the opposite end of said casing; guide-pulleys E E;lowering-bands a a secured to each of said bands, said cords beingpassed over said pulleys E E and back to the guide-pulleys E Erespectively, all coacting substantially as described and for thepurpose specified.

2. In a burial apparatus, the combination I of a frame or casing formedof sections; hinge comiections on the inner sides of the side sectionshinge connections on the under sides of the end sections; hingeconnections for the sections on one end to the side sections secured onthe outer sidesof the same, for the purpose specified.

3. In a burial apparatus, a frame or casing consisting of side and endportions, which end portions are formed of sections; suitable horizontalhinge connections for the sections of said end portions; and suitablevertical hinge connections for the sections of at least one of the endportions to the side portions, for the purpose specified.

4. In a burial apparatus, the combination of a frame or casing,consisting of side and end portions; a shaft located in one of said endportions; bands or straps extending in opposite directions secured tosaid shaft, and

adapted to be wound thereon; guides arranged at each side of said shaft,adapted to deliver said bands into the side portions of said casing; apair of lowering-cords secured to each of said bands; pulleys over whichsaid lowering-cords are arranged-located at the end of said casingopposite said shaft, and suitable guides arranged to deliver saidlowering-cords from the side portions of said casing in the properrelation for use, as specifie In Witness whereof I have hereunto set myhand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

ROLLIN A. SHOESMITH. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

EVERID J. RoUNDY, WM. KILLEFER.

